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PRESBYTERIAN 
MlSSldNARY  SOCIETY 


OF 


PUBLISHED  By  THE  BIRECTORS, 

,1824. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/reportofboardofdOOpres 


KEPORT. 


Dear  Brethren, 

It  deserves  to  be  noticed,  in  honour  of  the  Christian 
rehgion,  that  under  the  benign  influence  of  its  principles, 
charitable  institutions  have  more  abounded  tlian  under 
the  influence  of  any  other  religion  whatever.  Where  do 
we  find  in  heathen  countries,  however  civilized  and  polish- 
ed, any  thing  like  systematic  arrangements  for  the  relief 
of  the  poor — any  infirmaries,  hospitals,  charity  schools, 
or  benevolent  societies  ?  For  all  these  things,  and  for 
much  more,  we  are  indebted  to  the  prevailing  influence 
of  the  gospel,  regulating  by  its  principles  the  humaa 
heart,  and  directing  the  operations  of  society. 

But  whilst  other  institutions,  useful  in  themselves, 
confine  their  operations  to  a  mere  worldly  benevolence, 
and  exhaust  their  energies  in  the  accommodations  of 
time,  it  is  the  high  ofliice  of  our  Missionary  Society  to 
regard  the  eternity  of  its  object,  to  extend  its  views  to 
another  world,  and  to  furnish  to  perishing  immortals  the 
bread  of  eternal  life.  The  means  which  it  adopts,  viz, 
preaching  the  gospel,  and  administering  its  ordinances, 
are  the  very  means  which  God  himself  has  instituted  in 
his  holy  word,  and  which  from  the  beginning  he  has 
condescended  to  own  and  bless,  for  the  noblest  of  all 
ends— the  production  of  immortal  happiness  and  holi- 
ness  in  the  souls  ^of  men.  Preaching,  indeed,  is  the 
grand  means  by  which  the  gospel  becomes  instrumental 
to  salvation,      How  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom 


(  4  ) 

they  have  not  believed  ?  (says  the  apostle ;)  and  how 
shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  ? 
and  how  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher  ?"  "So 
then  faith  corneth  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word 
of  God,'*      The  pulpit,  (says  the  great  Christian  poet,) 

•*  Must  stand  acknowledg'd,  -.vhile  the  world  shall  stand. 

The  most  important  and  efifectual  guard,  . 

Support,  and  ornament  of  virtue's  cause."  - 

From  the  infancy  of  the  church  to  the  present  hour, 
preaching  has  more  roused  and  engaged  the  attention  of 
mankind,  than  every  thing  else  which  was  not  miracu- 
lous. Far  more  knowledge,  and  far  deeper  impressions 
of  religious  subjects,  have  been  gained  by  mankind  from 
this  source,  than  from  all  other  human  labours.  Nor 
was  any  other  method  ever  devised  so  cheap,  so  conve- 
nient, and  so  effectual,  for  the  purposes  of  diffusing  iuT 
struction  and  reforming  mankind.  The  preaching  of  the 
cross  of  Christ,  although  once  a  stumbling-block  to 
the  Jews,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness,'V  has,  by  facts 
innumerable  and  incojitestable,  proved  itself  to  be  "the 
pQwer  of  God,  and  thcJ  wisdom  of  God."  By  the  em-: 
ployment  of  this  means,  in  which  divine  truth  accompa- 
nies the  living  energies  of  a  human  voice,  has  been  ac- 
cpmplished  the  most  amazing  revolution  the  world  ever 
saw.  With  the  preaching  of  our  Lord  and  his  apostles — - 
the  fishermen  of  Galilee— this  revolution  commenced  \ 
and  v/hat  has  been  the  issue  ?  The  meek  and  humble 
religion  of  the  cross,  by  the  instrumentality  of  preaching, 
pervaded  the  mighty  empire  of  the  Romans ;  overturned 
their  altars  \  closed  their  temples ;  hushed  to  silence  their 
pracles;  triumphed  over  the  fiercest  opposition ;  and, 
iiltimately,  through  a  host  of  prejudices,  fortified  by  anr 
rtiquity,  and  sanctioned  by  universal  custom,  made  it? 
Vay  to  the  tlixone  of  the  Caesars. 


(    3  ) 


But  ^  more  illustrious  triyipph,  than  any  yet  accom« 
plished,  awaits  the  preaching  of  the  cross  of  Christ— not 
merely  the  conquest  of  an  empire,  but  the  conquest  of  a 
world:  for^  **  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea ;  and  none  shall 
need  to  say  unto  his  neighbour,  Know  the  Lord  ;  for  all 
shall  know  him,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest."  On  this 
subject,  the  prophecies  and  promises  of  God's  word 
leave  us  no  room  for  doubt.  The  leaven  hid  in  three 
measures  of  meal,  will,  most  assuredly,  leaven  the  whole 
lump.  The  grain  of  mustard  seed,  will  become  a  great 
tree  ;  and  the  stone  cut  out  without  hands,  will  swell  into 
a  mountain,  and  fill  the  whole  earth. 

The  Board  of  Directors,  brethren,  will  now  proceed  * 
^    to  give  a  detailed  statement  of  such  appointments  as  were 
made  by  them,  and  fulfilled  in  the  years  18^0,  1821, 
1822,  and  1823.  "  / 

In  the  year  1820,  Mr.  Dickinson,  a  licentiate,  from 
the  north,  was  appointed  to  a  mission  of  two  months, 
within  the  bounds  of  the  presbytery  of  Concord.  Of 
the  fulfilment  of  this  mission  no  account  has  been  receiv- 
ed: it  is  supposed,  however,  that  Mr.  Dickinson  did 
■  perforpi,  if  not  the  whole,  at  least  a  part  of  the  services 
assigned  him. 

Mr.  Jfohn  Harrington,  a  licentiate  of  the  presbytery  of 
f  ay etteville^a  mission  of  three  months,  on  missionary 
ground,  within  the  bounds  of  said  presbytery.  Mr. 
Harrington,  in  his  report,  states,  that,  according  to  the 
instructions  given  him  by  the  Board,  his  time  was  em- 
ployed in  preaching  the  word,  visiting  the  sick,  attend- 
ing on  meetings  for  prayer  and  exhortation,  and  also  m 
visiting  from  house  to  house— that  he  laboured  in  the 
counties  of  Columbus,  Bladen,  Cumberland,  Moore,' 
^id  Randolph ;  travelled  five'  hundred  and  sixt^-six 


\ 


(    6  ) 

miles,  and  preached  forty  sermons — tliat  altliouglx  in 
many  places  religion  was  found  to  be  in  a  languisliing 
state,  yet  his  preaching,  for  the  most  part,  was  sedousiy, 
and,  on  Sabbath  days,  numerously  attended.  Some 
pleasing  and  Mattering  appearances  were  witnessed ;  par- 
ticularly in  the  counties  of  Moore  and  Biaden  ;  and  good 
impressions,  it  is  hoped,  were  made.  Mr.  Harrington 
recommends  to  the  attention  of  the  Society,  the  counties 
of  Moore,  Randolph,  and  Montgomery,  as  an  important 
'  field  for  missionary  labours  ;  where,  besides  other  places 
for  preaching,  there  are  several  small  Presbyterian  con- 
gregations destitute  of  the  stated  means  of  grace. 

The  expenses  of  this  mission  amounted  to  S120,  to- 
wards defraying  which,  only  the  sum  of  SI  L. 90  was  con-  / 
tributed  by  the  people  among  whom  your  missionary  la- 
boured. 

Mr.  Parsons  O.  Hayes,  a  licentiate,  from  the  north— r 
a  mission  of  two  months  in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  and  its 
vicinity.  A  particular  account  of  his  labours,  while  in 
the  service  of  the  Society,  is  furnished  in  his  missionary 
journal;  of  which  the  following  is  a  summary.  He  spent 
seven  weeks  in  missionary  labours,  including  the  time  of 
his  travelling  to  the  place  of  his  appointment.  He  rode 
three  hundred  miles;  preached  twenty-seven  times ;  at- 
tended eight  meetings  for  exhortation  and  prayer ;  visit- 
ed several  schools,  and  also  visited  from  house  to  house. 
He  collected  in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Society,  the  sum  of  S30,  and  states  that  the  attention 
of  the  people,  in  that  place,  to  public  worship,  was  highly 
commendable.  Some  appeared  to  be  seriously  impress- 
ed, and  in  one  instance,  at  least,  it  is  hoped  and  believed 
^tbat  a  saving  change  was  experienced. 

la  Lexington  and  its  vicinity,  where  he  spent  part  of 
his  time,  religious  appearances  were  pronjisingt  The 


(   7  ) 

congregation  was  always  numerous,  ^nd  often  crowded  3 
and  the  gospel  message  was  listened  to  with  much  ap- 
parent seriousness  and  interest.  Among  this  people, 
Mr.  Hayes  was  instrumental  in  establishing  regular 
meetings  for  prayer  and  other  religious  exercises,  which, 
as  long  as  he  continued  with  them,  he  had  the  plea* 
sure  of  seeing  well  attended.  In  the  opinion  of  the 
Board,  the  town  of  Lexington  presents  to  the  Society  an 
encouragement  for  missionary  labours.  A  house  for 
public  worship  has  been  erected  there,  and  is  nearly 
completed. 

The  Rev.  John  H.  Pickard — a  mission  of  six  weeks, 
in  the  western  counties,  within  the  bounds  of  the  pres- 
bytery of  Orange.  Mr.  Pickard  found  it  impracticable 
to  fulfil  more  than  three  weeks  of  the  mission  assigned 
him.  During  ^is  period,  he  rode  between  two  and 
three  hundred  miles— preaclied  fourteen  times — -admin- 
istered the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper  once — receiv- 
ed on  examination  one  person  to  the  communion  of  the 
church  J  and  baptised  three  children*  It  appears  from 
Mr,  Pickard's  journal,  that  his  hearers  were  generally 
solemn  and  attentive.  In  some  instances,  under  his 
ministry,  there  were  visible  signs  of  contrition ;  and  m 
others,  God's  own  people  appeared  to  be  filled  with  joy 
and  peace  in  believing.  He  represents  the  county  of 
Surry,  as  an  important  field  for  missionary  exertions* 
The  inhabitants,  who  are  almost  entirely  destitute  of  the 
stated  means  of  grace,  are  anxious  to  have  the  gospel 
preached  among  them  ;  and  have  particularly  requested 
that  a  missionary  should  be  appointed  to  visit  and  ton- 
tinue  among  them'  for  some  time.  Mr.  Pickard  receiv- 
ed for  the  Society  B15,.83,  which  sum  added  to  Sl^.'. 
50,  collected  from  subscriptions  on  his  twenty-five  cerlt 
book,  after  defraying  the  expenses  of  his  mission,  leaves 


{  s  ) 

a  balance  of  several  dollars  in  favour  of  the  funds  of  the 
institution. 

The  missionary  operations  of  the  year  1820,  close 
with  Mr.  Pickard's  mission.  Two  other  persons  were 
appointed  by  the  Board,  to  perform  missionary  services, 
but  their  appointments  were  not  fulfilled.  From  the 
preceding  statements  it  appears,  that  four  missionaries 
vrcrc  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Board  in  the  year 

1820,  and  the  whole  time  actually  spent  in  missionary 
labours  was  about  thirty -two  weeks. 

From  ihe  minutes  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  it  ap- 
pears, that  the  missionary  appointments  for  the  year 

1821,  were  more  numerous  than  for  any  preceding  year 
since  the  Society  was  organized. 

Thirteen  missionaries  were  appointed  and  commis- 
sioned by  the  Board,  to  itinerate  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Society,  and  to  preach  the  gospel  and  administer  its  or- 
dinances, in  places  destitute  of  the  stated  means  of  grace, 
and  wherever,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Board,  there  was  a 
prospect  of  doing  good  to  the  souls  of  men,  and  advan- 
cing tlie  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  The 
whole  amount  of  time  embraced  by  the  several  mission- 
ary appointments,  was  tvi/enty-six  months.  Of  the  thir- 
teen missionaries  appointed,  it  is  understood,  that  three 
of  them,  viz*  Messrs.  Graves,  Stafford,  and  Bowden,  did 
not  find  it  convenient,  or  compatible  with  their  other  du- 
ties, to  fulfil  any  part  of  the  missionary  services  to  which 
they  were  appointed. 

On  no  former  occasion  had  the  journals  of  your  mis- 
sionaries presented  so  many  circumstances  calculated  to 
enliven  the  hopes  and  invigorate  the  benevolent  exertions 
of  the  Society.  Your  missionaries,  it  is  true,  deeply 
deplc^-d  the  evidences  of  fatal  indifference  towards  the 
blessed  message  of  the  gospel,  which  were  occasionally 


(    9  ) 

exhibited  by  those  among  whom  they  laboured ;  but,  in 
the  greater  number  of  instances,  they  express  a  lively 
hope  that  their  ministry  was  not  in  vain.  Their  own 
feelings — the  door  of  utterance  occasionally  opened  to 
them — the  fixed  attention  of  their  hearers — the  solicitous 
countenance  and  the  weeping  eye — together  with  eviden- 
ces of  a  more  substantial  and  lasting  character,  on  many 
occasions,  cheered  the  hearts  of  your  missionaries ;  and 
led  them  to  the  delightful  conclusion,  that  God  ^vas,  in 
very  deed,  in  the  midst  of  the  people,  and  that  the  preach- 
ing  of  his  gospel  had  been  accompanied  with  the  power- 
ful influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven. 

In  the  year  1822,  eleven  missionaries  were,  tit  different 
times,  employed  by  the  Society,  and  their  commissions 
embraced  in  the  whole  a  term  of  thirty-one  months. 
They  w^ere  directed  to  labour  in  the  counties  of  Iredell, 
Caswell,  Halifax,  Beaufort,  Chatham,  Rockingham,  Sur- 
ry, Burke,  Ashe,  and  Wilkes  ;  and  in  some  instances, 
w^ithaut  assigning  them  any  particular  stations,  they  were 
directed  to  labour  within  the  bounds  of  the  different  pres- 
byteries. Most  of  the  missionaries  fulfilled  their  appoint- 
ment,  and  some  were  prevented  by  other  engagements 
from  labouring  in  the  service  of  the  Society.  The  mis- 
sionary journals  of  Messrs.  Witherspoon,  Hatch,  Chap, 
man,  Gould,  Graves,  and  Stafford,  have  been  received, 
and  present  a  very  interesting  history  of  their  labours. 

In  giving  an  account  of  our  operations  in  1823,  we 
remark,  that,  from  the  magnitude  of  the  v/ork  in  which 
we  were  engaged,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  mis. 
sionaries  proportionate  to  the  extensive  fields  of  exertion, 
w^e  effected  not  as  much  as  we  desired :  we  did  little 
compared  with  what  yet  remains  to  be  executed.  But 
have  no  cause  to  be  discouraged.    On  the  contrary,  we 

should  be  grateful  that  we  were  enabled  to  do  even  more 

2 


7 


(    10  ) 

than  the  most  sanguine  expectations  ventured  to  antici- 
pate. 

In  the  location  of  missionaries,  it  will  be  perceived 
that  the  Directors,  during  that  year,  confined  the  opera- 
tions of  those  who  were  employed  to  narrow  limits ;  and 
instead  of  giving  them  a  large  district  to  traverse,  thought 
it  expedient  to  locate  them  in  towns  and  villages,  in  des- 
titute congregations,  or  selected  parts  of  a  county.  The 
advantages  attending  this  method  must  be  obvious  to  all. 
It  gives  a  missionary  an  opportunity  of  doing  more  good 
by  religious  visits  and  private  conversation ;  it  enables 
the  people  to  hear  the  word  more  frequently  preached, 
and  to  derive  more  benefit  from  its  ministration,  and  it 
affords  an  encouraging  prospect  of  the  formation  of  new 
congregations.  The  Directors  would  beg  leave  to  sug- 
gest this  subject  to  the  Society,  and  to  recommend  in 
general  such  a  location  of  missionaries. 

In  November  last,  Mr.  Thomas  Davis,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Concord  presbytery,  was  engaged  by  the  Society  to 
labour  in  the  destitute  parts  of  Rockingham,  In  this 
service  he  was  employed  two  months,  and  not  without 
effect.  Most  of  those  to  whom  he  preached,  v/ere  la- 
mentably destitute  of  the  ordinances  of  religion,  and 
have  but  few  opportunities  of  hearing  the  gospel  but 
when  missionaries  are*  sent  to  them.  To  these  people 
he  delivered  the  word  of  life  plainly  and  faithfully ;  and 
we  trust  thst  his  labours  were  not  in  vain— that  the  seed 
which  he  then  sowed  will  be  watered  by  the  dews  of  the 
Spirit,  spring  up,  and  produce  fruit. 

In  December,  Rev.  Chauncey  Eddy,  from  the  Theo- 
l6gical  Seminary  of  Andover,  was  employed  to  act  as  a 
missionary  in  tlie  town*  of  Morganton  and  its  vicinity. 
He  entered  upon  his  mission  with  alacrity  and  zeal,  and 
by  his  indefatigable  exertions  did  much  for  the  promo- 


(  11  ) 


tion  of  religion.  This  was  accomplished  as  much  by 
his  private  exertions,  as  by  his  public  preaching.  In 
season  and  out  of  season"  he  proclaimed  salvation  to 
sinners  with  hopeful  encouragement.  He  edified  the 
saints,  comforted  the  afflicted,  taught  from  house  to 
house,  conversed  with  many  on  the  concerns  of  their 
souls,  and  administered  the  seals  of  the  covenant.  He 
continually  repeated  his  visits  to  the  places  where  he  had 
laboured,  watered  where  he  had  sown,  gave  line  upon 
line,  and  precept  upon  precept;"  and  by  this  means 
strengthened  the  impression  which  his  first  preaching 
had  made.  He  revived  two  or  three  Presbyterian  con- 
gregations, which  had  almost  fallen  to  decay  ;  re-organi- 
zed the  churches,  appointed  officers,  and  received  mem- 
bers :  and  with  pleasure  we  inform  the  Society,  now  ex- 
ercises the  pastoral  ofiice  over  them. 

In  January,  Mr.  James  Douglass,  a  licentiate  of  the 
presbytery  of  New- Castle,  (Delaware,)  made  an  engage- 
ment with  the  Board,  to  undertake  a  mission  to  the  des- 
titute parts  of  Granville  county  ;  and  was  employed  two 
months  in  three  vacant  congregations,  Oxford,  Provi- 
dence, and  Spring  Grove.— We  hesitate  not  to  say,  that 
he  was  a  rich  blessing  to  that  people,  and  the  instrument 
of  greatly  promoting  their  spiritual  interests.  Besides 
the  public  ministry  of  the  word,  to  which  he  attended 
whenever  an  opportunity  offered,  he  paid  the  strictest 
attention  to  catechetical  instruction,  the  establishment  of 
Sabbath  schools,  the  instruction^  of  Bible  classes,  conver- 
sation on  pious  subjects,  and  other  means  of  a  private 
nature. 

There  are  two  parts  of  the  conduct  of  this  missionary, 
to  which  we  cannot  but  particularly  refer,  as  affording 
model  for  all  engaged  in  the  same  service. — The  one  is, 
the  special  solicitude  which  he  manifested  for  youth  and 


(    12  ) 


little  children.    No  opportunity  seemed  to  pass  without 
some  gentle  warning — some  kind  admonition.— In  his 
journal  of  the  15th  of  March,  he  says — On  this  day  I 
visited  ten  families,  and  conversed  with  the  several  mem- 
bers on  religious  subjects. — Found  children  from  8  to 
12  years  of  age,  who  had  never  been  taught  to  pray,  al- 
though their  mother  is  a  professor  of  religion.    I  endea- 
voured to  give  them  some  instruction  in  this  part  of  their 
duty." — We  rejoice  that  our  missionaries  hear  the  Sa- 
viour saying  to  them,  as  he  once  did  to  the  son  of  Jonas, 
Feed  my  lambs."^^ — Another  circumstance  in  the  con- 
duct of  this  missionary,  strikes  our  attention — the  deep 
and  lively  interest  which  he  felt  for  the  salvation  of  the 
blacks.    Employed  in  a  part  of  our  state  where  this 
class  of  the  community  is  numerous,  he  felt  that  they 
too  needed  his  instructions  and  labours ;  that  the  com- 
mission which  he  received  from  his  Master  to  preach, 
eJctended  also  to  them ;  that  they  too  had  precious  and 
immortal  souls,  which  God  created  and  the  Saviour  re- 
deemed.~With  such  interest  for  their  spiritual  welfare, 
he  frequently  conversed  with  them  on  the  necessity  of 
religion,  and  often  appointed  for  them  special  meetings, 
ill  which  he  preached  the  doctrines  of  the  cross  with 
pointed  eaergy^,  but  yet  with  a  simple  plainness,  adapted 
to  their  humble  capacities.    These  instructions  cannot 
$001^  or  easily  be  forgotten. 

These  three  united  congregations  have  presented  a 
call  to  IVIr.  Douglass  to  settle  permanently  among  them  ; 
and  tye  understand  that  there  is  a  prospect  of  his  soon 
becoming  their  pastor.^ 

,  Jn  February,  Mr.  Robert  Anderson,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Hatiover  presbytery,  was  appointed  by  the  Board  to  la- 

•  Since  the  presentation  of  the  above  Report,  Mr.Donglass  has  been  settled 
in  Moufeesborough. 


(    13  ) 

hour  two  months  in  the  western  part  of  Burke  county  

In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary,  he  represents  this  part  of  our- 
state  as  presenting  an  extensive  field  for  missionary  ex- 
ertion— every  where  exhibiting  marks  of  moral  desola- 
tion. But  few  regular  churches  are  there  estabhshed, 
and  but  little  enlightened  preaching  is  ever  heard.  The 
consequence  is,  that  the  greater  part  of  the  people  are  de- 
plorably ignorant  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  openly 
neglectful  of  the  interests  of  their  salvation. — Our  mis- 
sionary endeavoured  to  rouse  them  by  close  and  faithful 
preaching  ;  and  not  confining  his  labours  to  the  Sabbath, 
established  many  private  meetmgs  for  divine  worship. 
In  some  of  these  meetings  there  was  great  solemnity  ; 
such  as  encouraged  the  preacher  to  hope  that  he  had  been 
the  instrument  of  bringing  some  to  a  saving  knowledge 
of  divine  truth. 

In  April,  Mr.  James  Cant,  a  licentiate^  of  the  presby- 
tery of  New-York,  undertook  a  mission  to  Bladen  coun- 
ty. The  greater  part  of  this  county  is  represented  by 
him  as  being  in  great  want  of  missionary  aid.  There  are 
some  professors  who  are  truly  enga,^ed  in  religion,  and 
who  adorn  their  Christian  profession ;  but  vast  numbers 
are  heedless  and  indifferent  to  spiritual  things.  Some 
Presbyterian  churches  are  languishing  for  want  of  the 
means  of  grace,  and  unless  attention  be  paid  to  them, 
must  soon  become  extinct.  They  expressed  gratitude 
to  the  Society  for  the  services  of  our  missionary,  and 
manifested  it  by  their  liberal  contributions ;  ,at  the  ^ame 
time  entreating  us  to  be  mindful  of  their  necessities,  and 
to  continue  to  send  them  the  preaching  of  the  gospel. 
Upon  the  whole^  we  think  that  Mr.  Cant  was  useful  ia 
Bladen.  In  sincerity  and  truth  he  preached  the ,  plain, 
doctrines  of  the  gospel;  and  we  have  reason. to  believe 
that  thi  great  Head  of  the  church,  in  some  instances, 


(     14  ) 

crowned  it  with  his  blessing.  His  labours  in  general 
were  well  received — many  heard  the  word  gladly — and 
the  assemblies  on  Sabbath,  and  at  other  times,  were 
large,  attentive  and  solemn. 

In  May,  Mr.  Gilbert  Cra^vford,  a  licentiate  of  the 
New-Brunswick  presbytery,  was  appointed  to  labour  in 
four  united  congregations  in  Robison  and  Richmond 
counties,  formerly  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  late 
Rev.  Mr.  M'Nair.  Among  this  people  he  enjoyed  a 
peculiar  advantage  in  being  a  Highlander,  and  able  to 
converse  and  preach  in  the  Gaelic  language.  These  con- 
gregations received  him  with  great  alFection,  and  treated 
him  with  much  respect.  Since  the  death  of  their  pastor, 
they  had  heard  but  little  preaching  ;  and  when  our  mis- 
sionary was  sent  to  them,  they  hailed  his  appearance  with 
gratitude  and  joy.  The  anxiety  to  hear  preaching  was 
unusually  great;  the  assemblies  for  worship  were  al- 
ways large ;  and  the  attention  that  pervaded  them  was 
deep  and  solemn.  In  his  journal  he  remarks,  "  What 
adds  much  to  the  credit  of  this  pious  people,  is  their  ex- 
ertions to  get  to  a  place  of  public  worship  on  foot,  in  the 
absence  of  milder  accommodations.  I  knew  several  el- 
derly women  travel  on  foot  to  a  communion  season,  10 
or  12  miles.  The  time  has  been  when  the  same  people 
walked  20  miles  after  night  to  a  meeting.- — For  the  last 
8' days  I  preached  13  times..  The  average,  during  my 
residence  here,  has  been  once  every  day.  My  audiences 
were  large;  on  some  occasions  consisting  of  as  many  as 
1300*  The  houses  could  not  hold  the  people  on  any  of 
tlie  Sabbath  days.  Our  church  was  therefore  the  woods ; 
our  curtains  the  canopy  of  heaven.  The  attention  was 
uncommon;  the  solemnities  of  all,  and  the  sorrows  of 
some,  were  great ;  the  prospect  of  a  revival  of  religion 
ajiisidcr^lc,  •  It  were  certainly  to  be  desired  that  your 


(    15  ) 

Board  would  be  pleased  to  direct  more  of  its  operations 
towards  this  section  of  the  country." — On  his  departure, 
Mr.  Crawford  was  earnestly  solicited  to  settle  among 
them  as  their  pastor. 

In  August,  Mr.  James  Stafford,  a  licentiate  of  the  Con- 
cord presbytery,  was  engaged  by  the  Board  to  labour  in 
the  destitute  parts  of  Randolph  county.  His  acceptance 
of  a  call  from  other  congregations  to  exercise  the  pasto- 
ral office,  prevented  him  from  fulfilling  this  mission. 

In  September,  the  Rev.  Wm.  D.  Paisley  received  a 
commission  to  labour  one  month  in  a  part  of  Randolph 
county,  where  a  Presbyterian  church  is  building,  and 
one  month  in  the  town  of  Washington.  This  commis- 
sion has  not  yet  been  fulfilled,  but  will  be  commenced 
in  a  few  weeks.  We  doubt  not  that  this  missionary  will 
be  indefatigable  in  his  exertions,  and  prove  a  blessing  to 
the  people  among  whom  he  may  labour. 

In  addition  to  the  above  appoint ments,  we  would  ob- 
serve, that  in  January,  the  Rev,  Shepard  K.  Koiiock  was 
appomted  a  special  agent,  to  solicit  subscriptions  and  do- 
nations for  the  Society  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  In 
this  object  he  was  successful,  and  collected  a  consider- 
able sum  for  the  disposal  of  tlie  institution. 

In  this  tour  he  performed  the  duties  of  a  missionary, 
confining  his  operations  to  NewLern,  Washingtoil,  and 
Edenton.  In  the  town  of  Washington  the  prospect  of 
usefulness  was  considerable.  Since  he  left  them,  a  Pres- 
byterian church  and  congregation  have  been  organized, 
which  promise  to  become  in  time  respectable  and  flou- 
rishing. '  . 

In  reviewing  the  transactions  of  the  past  year,  the  Di- 
rectors, al^  lOugh  they  find  much  reason  for  humiliation 
before  Gf  d  for  the  very  imperfect  manner  in  which  they 
have  attended  upon  liis  work,  yet  discover  abundant 


C    16  ) 

cause  for  gratitude  to  the  Head  of  the  church  for  the 
manner  in  which  he  has  blessed  their  unworthy  eiforts  to 
spread  abroad  the  knowledge  of  his  name. — Let  it  no 
longer  be  said  that  our  Society  has  done  nothing — is 
doing  nothing.  We  have  the  animating  confidence,  in- 
spired by  the  known  success  of  every  effort  which  has 
been  made  in  this  good  work.  True,  we  did  not  begin 
without  hope.  At  every  step  our  expectations  have 
been  confirmed.  Agreeably  to  our  anticipations,  we 
have  seen  new  churches  forming  through  our  instrumen- 
tality ;  languishing  ones  strengthened;  and  the  wilder- 
ness beginning  to  blossom  as  the  rose,  and  to  echo  the 
praises' -of  God.  We  have  witnessed  the  old  and  the 
young  coming  up  to  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  where  for 
years  no  sanctuary  had  opened  its  doors ;  the  fire  of  hea- 
ven, long  extinguished,  re-kindled  on  the  altar  of  God  ; 
the  full  assembly  at  his  throne  of  grace,  and  the  influences 
of  the  Spirit  descending  upon  them  ;  the  table  of  our 
Saviour  spread,  and  the  memorials  of  his  death  received 
by  humble,  grateful,  welcome  guests.  How  sweet  the 
reflection  to  the  heart  of  every  member  of  this  Society, 
that  he  has  contributed  to  effects  like  these. 

It  is  true  that  what  we  have  done  falls  far  short  of 
what  the  exigences  of  the  case  demand.  When  we  cast 
our  eyes  over  those  wide  fields  already  ripe  for  the  hand 
of  the  reaper,  that  present  themselves  on  every  side, 
it  seems  Tery  little  to  send  out  a  few  labourers,  to  thrust 
in  a  sickle -  here  and  there,  into  the  most  promising  and 
fertile  p^rts,  and  collect  a  few  sheaves.  And  when  v/e 
remember,  that  much  of  what  is  left  by  us  will  be  seized 
by  the  evil  one,  and  bound  in  bundles  for  the  eternal 
flame,  it  seems^  to  be  incumbent  on  us  to  see  that  it  is 
through  no  fault  of  ours  that  the  whole  harvest  is  not  ga- 
tliered  into  the  granary  of  the  Lord.    But  herein  do  we 


C  "  ) 

find  cause  to  contemplate  cur  past  labours  with  saUsEac- 
tion,  and  to  take  oceasion  from  them  to  look  fortvard 
with  hope.  We  have  been  furnished  with  evidence, 
that  open  hostib'ty  to  the  pure,  holy  and  hnmbltng  doc- 
trines  of  evangelical  religion  is  net  to  be  espected.  For 
the  uniform  testimony  borne  by  the  journals  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, is,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  regions  through 
which  they  have  travelled,  have  flocked  with  eagerness 
to  attend  on  their  ministrations,  and  ha've  listened  in  the 
attitude  of  men  hungering  and  thirsting  after  righreous- 
ness,''  and  as  those  who  knew  what  a  dreadful  thing  it  is 
to  live  where  thare  is  a  famine  of  the  word  of  God.  How 
different  is  this  reception  &om  that  winch  the  jSrst  toch- 
ers of  Christianity  met  with  when  they  entered  ib^  Tm-  ' 
ous  cities  of  the.  Roman  empire,  bearing  the  glad  tidings 
of  a  Saviour  slain  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  They  had 
the  sophistries  of  the  proud  philosophers,  the  Stoics  and 
Epicureans  to  encounter.  The  prince  of  darkness,  after 
having,  for  many  ages,  held  mankind  m  chains,  and 
S7r:i7ed  z  irri :J  ^i-oalrdllea  doroim<Hi  over  a  sub- 
ject7  1:1:  :  '    '  '7zt,  zz-^dhlms^ 

for  its,  w---.  :^  zzd  excited  spirit  of  persecutioil 
agamst  so  that  !a  eToy  dlj     bonds  2sd 

imprisonmoits  awaitsd"-  Sien3i  ■  Bat  By  the^  things 
^~:zl:z  not  dismayed  r::  I:i-:esf!eiied.  They 

wei^  men  like  gih^v^'  ■  And  if  these  saldiers  of 
cin^  TeatoroJ,  iiiider  sudi  ciit^  to  faope  fcr 

fin::!  ^-rttress,  and  to  fffdbeed  to  f^siit  fe  ^arrted  bT  the 
c.  -  cathe  shrioes  of  the  idol  gods,  we  tuizlj  my 

Tcniiire  to  take  eaa5in2gement,  nor  shall  we  deserve  the 
name  of  men,  sda  fess^t  of  Christko^  if  we  feO  to 
persevere.  Indeed,  the  qu^cm  whether  w^  shall  ven- 
ture to  contiBue  our  missionary  e2£erdcsis,iiow  resolves  it- 
self into  one  of  cool  calciilatiaii.  May  we  npl  count 


(    18  ) 

on  the  countenance,  assistance  and  support  of  a  Christian 
community,  in  the  blessed  work  of  communicating  to  a 
ruined  world  the  glad  tidings  of  their  redemption?  The 
prospect  of  the  future  blessedness  of  those  that  should 
believe,  was  so  lovely  and  glorious,  that  even  the  *'Holy 
One  that  inhabiteth  eternity,"  could  not  resist  those  feel- 
ings of  love  and  pity  that  prompted  him  to  suffer  in  their 
stead.  The  sighs  and  tears  of  man  had  power  to  charm 
the  Saviour  away  from  the  songs  of  angels — to  charm 
him — not  to  another  heaven,  and  to  other  songs  as  sweet 
and  holy,  but  to  that  wicked  world,  where  his  soul  was 
to  be  sorrowful,  even  unto  death.  These  were  the  works 
of  Jesus.  Can  we  safely  expect  that  men  will  part  with 
tlieir  worldly  substance,  for  the  promotion  of  that  object 
for  which  the  Saviour  shed  his  blood  ?  When  the  Spirit 
was  first  poured  out  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  the  con- 
verts sold  their  possessions,  and  came  and  laid  the  money 
at  the  apostles'  feet.  And  both  in  that  day  and  the  follow- 
ing ages,  there  have  been  found  those  who,  from  love  to 
God,  have  been  willing  to  give  their  bodies  to  be  burned. 
Now  we  cannot  believe,  that  of  those  that  bear  the  name 
of  Christ,  all  are  so  sJow  to  follow  his  example,  that  they 
will  do  nothing.  We  cannot  believe,  that  the  spirit  of 
primitive  Christianity  is  so  utterly  extinct  and  dead,  that 
,  no  scheme  for  carrying  on  the  work  begun  of  old,  will 
prosper.  We  trust  that  no  one  who  has  tasted  of  the 
good  gift  of  GjDd,  and  the  powers  of  the  v/orld  to  come, 
will  withhold  his  hand.  We  trust,  also,  that  those  who 
as  yet  lay  no  claim  to  an  acquaintance  with  experimental 
religion — who  look  to  the  mercy  of  God  at  some  future 
^time— whose  compassion  for  a  suffering  fellow  creature 
""leads  them,  when  he  is  cold  and  naked  to  clothe  him, 

-'when  hungry  to  feed  him,  will  not  refuse  to  contribute 

'--•■> 


(    19  ) 


something  to  relieve  a  more  urgent  an,d  dreadful  neces- 
sity. 

The  recital  of  our  proceedings  must,  we  think,  pro- 
duce one  of  two  effects  on  every  feeling  and  pious  mind — 
it  must  either  fill  it  with  gloom  and  despondency,  and 
lead  it  to  give  over  every  exertion  in  despair,  or  rouse 
in  it  a  zeal  and  devotion  that  has  never  been  felt  before. 
It  is  hoped,  however,  that  no  one,  on  comparing  the 
supply  with  the  necessity — the  small  number  of  mis- 
ionaries  with  a  population  of  some  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands, will  be  induced  to  give  over  the  case  as  hope- 
less.   It  is  to  be  remembered,  that  all  those  exertions 
which  have  issued  in  a  change  in  the  moral  character 
of  a  large  portion  of  our  race,  have  been  commenced 
under  circumstances  abundantly  more  unfavourable 
than  those  in  which  we  are  placed.    We,  if  we  con- 
sult only  the  maxims  of  mere  carnal  prudence,  may 
safely  persevere.    And  yet  it  is  by  refusing  all  regard 
to  these  maxims — hoping  against  hope,  and  continu- 
ing exertion  when  the  probability  was  strong  against 
success,  that  the  church  has  finally  emerged  in  bright- 
ness and  beauty,  from  under  the  darkest  clouds  that 
have  ever  rested  upon  her.    If  one  who  has  never  felt 
the  power  of  that  strong  faith,  under  the  influence  of 
which  the  Christian  looks  with  unwavering  confidence 
to  God  under  all  circumstances,  had  been  consulted  by 
the  apostles,  before  they  commenced  their  labours,  what 
kind  of  answer  would  he  have  given?    You,  alitde  band 
of  ignorant  fishermen,  think  of  overturning  the  establish- 
ed religion  of  the  Roman  empire?"  would  he  not  have 
said.  "  What  are  your  means  ?  You  might  as  well  have 
undertaken  to  overturn  the  world."  But,  thanks  to  God, 
the  apostles  listened  to  no  such  cold  suggestions  as  these. 
St.  Paul  says,  that  he  "  conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood," 


C  £0  ) 


He  listened  to  the  i award  teaching  of  the  Spirit,  and  the 
blessed  consequences  which  we  are  experiencing  at  the 
present  day.  When  Lutherdiscovered  the  dreadful  aposta- 
cy  from  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  of  which 
the  church  of  Rome  had  been  guilty,  had  he  followed  the 
cold,  teniporising  maxims,  and  imitated  the  cowardice 
of  some  Ghristians,  he  would  only  have  retired  to  some 
solitude,  and  there  have  deplored  in  silence  and  tears  the 
desolations  of  Zion,  When  he  raised  his  arm,  and  gave 
the  first  blow  to  the  papal  hierarchy,  how  hopeless  did 
the,  contest  appear.  Yet  that  was  the  commencement  of 
a  Reformation,  for  which  half  of  Europe  and  half  of  Ame- 
rica will  have  reason  to  bless  God  as  long  as  the  world 
shall  endure.  The  great  operations  that  are  now  carry- 
ing on  in  the  eastern  world,  for  evangelizing  the  heathen, 
would  never  have  beep  heard  of,  if  the  first  projectors  of 
the  work  had  been  deterred  from  the  undertaking  by  any 
cx)nsideration-  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  means  to  the 
^nd.  In  the  first,  instancei  four  missionaries  only  went 
out- tp  corrvert  the  vast  empire  of  Indostan,  with  its 
millions  of  peoplCj  to  Christianity.  It  was  some  years 
before  they  made  a  single  convert*  But  the  great  work 
is  now  going  on  with  a  rapidity  and  success,  that  war- 
rants the  belief^  that,  in  a  very  few  years,  the  stand- 
ard oP  the  Cross  will  wave  in  triumph  from  the  southern 
extremity  of  tlie  peninsula  of  India  to  the  mountains  that 
form  its  nortl^erri  boundary.  It.  is,  undoubtedly,  our 
duty-to  fill  the  whole  country  with  missionaries,  till  there 
shall  be  no  dark  corner  of  the  land  unenlightened  by  the 
beattis  of  the  Sun  of  righteousness.  This  may  appear- 
to  €ome  a  great  undertaking ;  and  such  it  undoubtedly  is, 
i^ind  such  we  ought  to  regard  it*  Wc  ought  to  regard' 
it  as  one  which  we  are^  nevertheless,  to  achieve*   It  is 


(    21  ) 

to  be  remem.ber:ed,  that.  as.  the  work  advances,  the  num- 
ber oE  the  labourers:  will  also  uicrease,  till  eva?y  aection 
of  our  country  shall  be  not  only  able,  but  wiUing  to  sup- 
port its  own  religious  teacher. 

Rut  how  mudx  yet:  remains  to  be  done— how  large  a 
portion  of  our  state  lies  in  spiritual  darkness.  What  a 
vast  number  of  desolate  places  have  never  yet  been  vi- 
sited  by  our  missionaries— have  never  received  the  least 
assistance  from  our  Society. 

Brethren,  we  are  engaged  in  the  cause  of  a  gracious 
Master,  who  will  pardon  our  infirmities,  and  accept  the 
willingness  of  our  devoted  hearts.  We  are  engaged  in 
a  glorious  cause — in  the  cause  of  the  Lord  Jesus  against 
the  malignant  enemy  of  the  human  race — of  the  Prince 
of  life  against  the  powers  of  darkness  and  of  death.  W^e 
are  engaged  in.  a  benevolent  cjause,  whose  aim.  is  to  res- 
cue sinners  from  the  thraldom  of  sin,  the  captivity  of  Sa- 
tan, and  the  horrors  of  perdition.  We.  are  engaged  in 
an  honourable  cause;  for  we.  are  workers  together  with 
God,  and  with-  multitudes- of .  our  fellow  Christians  in 
different  quarters  of  the  globe,  in  extending  the  aews  of 
salvation  to  perishing  sinners.  .  How  happy  are  we  to  be 
indulged  with,  an  opportunity:  of.  communicating  the  gqs-t 
pel  of  the  blessed  Jesus  to  the  destitute^  How  happy 
to  live  in  a  day  when  the  triumphs  of  tlie  cross  are  so 
manifest,  and  when  we  may  contribute  so  much  to  aid 
its  triumphs.  "  The  cai^sejn  which  we  are  engaged ^is 
pregnant  with  encouragement  and  hope.  God  has  aU 
ready  given  us  earnests  of  future  success.  It  is  his 
cause,  and  it  must  prevail ;  for  he  has  promised  final  vic- 
tory ;  and  Jesus,  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  captain  of  sal- 
vation, is  our  leader.— Let  us  be  true  to  his  service— r 
Jet  us  press  on  with  ardour  in  the  glorious  work— and 


(    22  ) 

never  be  satisfied  until  our  Society  becomes  one  of  the 
most  efficient  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the  Almighty. 

Think,  brethren,  of  the  many  hundreds  and  thousands 
in  our  state,  who  are  destitute  of  the  ordinances  of  God. 
O  !  think  of  the  many  places  where  Sabbaths  pass  away 
year  after  year,  but  where  no  sound  of  the  gospel  is  heard ; 
no  hand  of  pastoral  sympathy  is  extended  to  wipe  away 
the  tears  of  sorrow,  or  to  point  the  sick  and  dying  to 
the  only  Saviour  of  men.  Children  grow  up  to  man- 
hood, and  hasten  to  eternity,  with  no  spiritual  guide  to 
direct  them  in  the  path  to  heaven — no  influence  of  grace 
descends  to  arrest  the  current  of  man'»  depravity,  and 
change  the  heart  of  the  sinner.- — Many  of  these  places 
solicit  our  sympathy  and  aid.  Our  missionaries  tell  us 
so.  Their  own  letters  beseech  us  not  to  forget  them — 
though  they  are  destitute  and  ignorant,  not  to  forget, 
but  to  pity  and  succour  them.  Let  their  cries  not  only 
enter  our  ears,  but  penetrate  our  hearts.  As  a  needy 
people,  they  throw  themselves  upon  our  charity.  Let 
our  benevolence  be  excited — let  us  eagerly  flee  to  res- 
cue them. 

!•  Grant  us  your  prayers,  your  contributions,  and  every 
other  means,  to  assist  us  in  this  great,  and  noble,  an4 
benevolent  work. 

In  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

HENRY  POTTER,  President 
Shepard  K.  Kollock,  Secretary. 


CONSTITUTION. 


Deeply  concerned  for  the  condition  ol  multitudes  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Synod  of  North-Carolina,  who  are  unhappily  destitute 
of  the  preaching  of  the  word  of  God,  and  of  all  the  invaluable  bles- 
sings of  Gospel  ordinances  regularly  administered  :  We  the  subscri- 
bers, in  the  name  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  and  trusting 
to  his  grace  to  succeed  our  efforts,  do  agree  to  form  ourselves  into  a 
Missionary  Society,  to  be  called  "The  Presbyterian  Missionary 
Society  oe  North-Carolina,"  and  to  be  governed  and  conducted 
according  to  the  following  Constitution,  viz. 

I.  The  exclusive  object  of  this  Society  shall  be  to  raise  funds, 
and  appropriate  them  to  the  support  of  Missionaries  for  preaching 
the  Gospel,  and  administering  its  Ordinances,  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Synod  of  North-Carolina. 

II.  Every  person  who  shall  subscribe  this  Constitution,  and  pa^ 
the  sum  of  Two  Dollars,  shall  be  a  member  of  this  Society  as  long 
as  he  shall  continue  to  pay  One  Dollar  annually.  And  every  per- 
son who  shall  pay  the  sum  of  Tea  Dollars,  shall  be  considered  a 
Member  for  life,  without  further  contribution. 

HI.  Every  Donor  of  One  Hundred  Dollars  shall  be  an  Honora- 
ry President  for  Life.  Every  Donor  of  Fifty  Dollars  shall  be  an 
Honorary  Vice-President  for  Life.  And  every  Donor  of  Twenty- 
Five  Dollars  shall  be  an  Honorary  Director  for  Life.  Either  of 
the  sums  mentioned  in  this  article,  shall  be  payable  in  five  ecjua! 
annual  instalments. 

IV.  The  Society  shall  hold  their  annual  meetings  during  the  sit- 
ting of  Synod,  and  at  the  same  place  j  and  a  Sermon,  adapted  to 
the  occasion,  shall  be  preached  by  some  person  previously  appoint- 
ed ;  and  a  collection  shall  then  bl  made  in  aid  of  the  funds. 

V.  The  Officers  of  this  Society  shall  consist  of  a  President,  three 
Vice-Presidents,  a  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  who,  with  eleven  oth- 
er persons,  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  shall  constitute 
a  Board  of  Directors,  to  be  elected  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  at  ever/ 
•annual  meeting  of  the  Society. 


(    24  ) 


Yl.  The  Board  of  Directors,  in  the  recess  of  the  Society,  shall 
liare  the  management  of  all  missions  ;  shall  appoint  missionaries  ; 
give  them  their  instructions  ^  draw  upon  the  Treasurer  for  the  sums 
necessary  to  carry  their  designs  into  execution  ;  receive  donations  j 
fill  all  vacancies  which  m^y  happen  in  their  Board  during  the  re- 
cess ;  adopt  such  further  measures,  consistent  with  the  Constitu- 
tion, as  they  shall  deem  necessary  or  expedient,  and  make  report  to 
the  Society  at  every  annual  meeting. 

VII.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  by  its  otvn  adjourn- 
ments ;  and  special  meetings  of  the  Board  may  be  called  by  the 
President,  or  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  with  the  concurrence  of 
any  two  of  its  members. 

VIII.  All  monies  arising  from  life  subscriptions  and  donations, 
shall  be  laid  out  in  profitable  stock,  constituting  a  permanent  fund, 
the  proceeds  only  of  which  shall  be  employed  in  Missionary  expen- 
ditures. \  . 

^  IX.  No  alterations  or  amendments  shall  be  made  in  this  Consti- 
tution, except  at  an  annual  meeting,  and  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

X.  Ten  members  of  the  Society  shall  be  a  quorum  to  transact 
business  ;  and  four  Directors,  together  with  the  President,  or  one 
of  the  Vice-Presidents,  shall  form  a  quorum  of  the  Board. 


OFFICERS. 
Hon.  HENRY  POTTER,  President. 
:  .  Rev.  JOHN  ROBINSON,  1st  Vice-President. 

tlev.  JOSEPH  CALDWELL,  D.  D.  2d  Vice-President 
Rev.  COLIN  M'lVER,  3d  Vice-President. 
Hev.  SHEPARD  K.  KOLLOCK,  Secretary. 
fiTHAN  A.  ANDREWS,  Esq.  Treasurer. 

■  OTHER  DlRECTOn^, 

Rev.  John  Mi-WiLsoN,  Hon .  Frederick  Nash, 

Kev.  Wm,  M'Pheeters,  D.  D.  James  Mebane,  Esq. 

Kev.  John  B.  Davies,  I'homas  H.  Taylor,  Esq. 

Rev.  John  W1THERSP09N,  Mr.  William  Shaw, 

Rev^  Elisha  Mitchell,  Mr.  N,  H.  Harding. 
Rev.  Robert  H.  Morrison, 


PASTORAL  LETTER 

TO  THE 

CHURCHES 

UNDER  THE  CAHE  OF  THE 


Beloved  Brethren, 

It  is  no  unusual  thing  for  ecclesiastical  bodies  to  ad  - 
dress thenaseives  by  letter  to  those  over  whose  spiritual  ' 
and  eternal  welfare  they  are  appointed  to  watch.  We 
have  before  us  apostolic  example,  and  the  usages  of  the 
church  in  every  age  of  the  world.  It  seemeth  good  to  us, 
therefore,  to  visit  you  at  this  time,  and  by  letter  to  bo 
present  with  you;  to  rejoice  with  you  in  that  which  is  a 
matter  of  joy,  and  to  mourn  with  you  in  that  over  which 
we  ought  to  weep;  to  tender  to  you  the  consolations  of 
the  gospel,  and  afford  you  that  counsel  and  instruction 
which  may  promote  the  glorj  of  God,  and  your  best  every 
lasting  interests,  : 

Among  the  many  causes  of  thankfulness  and  joy,  we  * 
would  mention  the  follovvingr  .  c  *  * 

An  increase  of  ministers.  Since  ministers  are  senTof 
God  to  «  turn  men  from  darkness  to  lighti  and  from  the 
power  of  sin  and  satan  unto  the  service  of  the  living 
God;"  as  they  have  ever  been,  and  continue  to  be,4a-''^ 
strumental  in  promoting  the  temporal  happiness  and 
eternal  salvation  of  their  feUoW  beings,  every  additioit  to 
their  number  ought  to  be  a  matter  of  tharvkfulq^ss  .and 
praise.  Since  the  year  1816,  it  has  pleased  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church  so  to  multiply  our  number,  that  this 
presbytery,  which  then  consisted  of  eight  ministers,  now 
numbers  sixteen  ministers.  Many  pnjmising  young  meji, 
who  have  devoted  themselves  to  the  service  of  the  sanc- 
tuary, are  now  diligently  preparing  to  enter  the  field  of 


2 


labour,  and  we  trust  the  day  is  not  far  distant,  when 
these  fields,  which  are  already  white  to  harvest,  will  ex- 
perience the  zealous  efforts  of  those  hopeful  youths. 

Presbytery  have  under  their  care  seven  promising  ' 
young  men,  prosecuting  their  theological  studies;  and 
from  the  recent  revivals  of  religion  in  some  of  our  church- 
es, we  have  reason  to  hope  many  more  may  be  found 
willing  and  desirous  to  enter  the  vineyard  of  our  Lord. 
This  increase  of  ministers,  has  been  attended  with  a  re- 
building of  the  waste  places  of  our  Zion.  Many  ot  our,  hi- 
therto, destitute  congregations,  are  supplied  statedly  v\ith 
the  word  of  life,  and  no  longer  doomed  to  silent  Sabbaths. 
Many  new  churches  and  congregations  have  been  formed, 
and  blessed  with  the  influence  of  the  faithful  pastor,  so 
that  we  have  indeed  reason  to  exclaim,  **  what  hath  God 
wrought." 

2.  Union  among  ministers.  Whilst  some  portions  of 
the  church  of  Christ  are  pained  by  beholding  the  conten- 
tions and  divisions  among  the  ministers  of  Christ,  it  is 
our  unspeakable  happiness  to  witness  the  perfect  union 
and  harmony  of  opinion,  and  the  brotherly  love  and  kind- 
ness which  reigns  in  our  body.  There  is  but  one  mind 
with  us — to  follow  Christ,  and  to  study  the  peace,  purity 
and  prosperity  of  the  church.  You  yourselves  are  wit- 
nesses, that  we  declare  to  you,  *<  but  one  faith,  one  Lord, 
one  baptism.".  Brethren,  continue  to  pray  for  us,  that 
no  root  of  bitterness  springing  up,  trouble  us. 

3,  Revivals  of  religion.  We  have  reason  to  be  thank- 
ful that  God  hath  not  left  us  without  witnesses  of  his 
gracious  presence,  tokens  for  good,  that  we  may  know 
his  promises  are  unfailing.  Man  v  of  you,  dear  brethren, 
have  experienced  bis  gracious  presence,  and  can  better 
feel  than  describe  that  this  presence  is  life.  It  is  true,  this 
-work  of  grace  has  not  been  so  general,  as  to  prevent  ma- 
ny of  our  churches  from  crying,  "  ah.  our  leanness!  our 
leanness!'*  yet  in  some  few,  thus  highly  favoured,  a  large 
increase  has  been  the  result.  Our  presbytery  has  not 
been  so  extensively  visited  as  some  other  portions  of  the 
church;  yet  we  should  be  thankful  that  we  have  not  had 
to  complain  with  others,  that  the  heavens  were  as  brass, 
and  the  earth  as  iron.  Some  drops  of  mercy  we  have  felt, 
and  numerous  additions  have  been  made  to  the  church. 
Brethren,  let  our  continued  supplications  be,  Lord  revive 


3 


us;  in  the  midst  of  these  years,  ia  wrath,  deserved  wrath, 
remember  mercv, 

4.  An  increased  and  growing  attention  to  the  discipline 
of  the  church.  The  prosperity,  the  glory  and  beauty  of 
the  church  depends  upon  her  purity^  and  this  purity  is  in 
a  great  measure  owing  to  the  faithfulness  of  those  who 
are  appointed  to  watch  over  her  spiritual  concerns.  On 
this  subject  there  seems  to  be  an  anxious  desire  on  the 
part  of  your  ministers  and  elders  to  keep  the  church  pure, 
Christ  came  to  redeem  and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works.  Of  such  the  church  should 
ever  consist;  her  glory  and  excellency  is  not  in  numbers, 
but  in  the  purity  of  her  members, 

5.  Harn)ony  with  orber  denominations  of  christianM, 
Between  the  members  of  our  communion  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  body  of  Christ,  we  have  reason  to  believe  there 
exists  much  harmony  and  brotherly  love.  This  is  as  it 
should  be.  The  religion  of  Jesus  is  a  religion  of  love. 
The  design  is  to  unite  and  bind  men  together;  not  to  se- 
ver and  separate  them  one  from  another.  Ail  its  precepts 
and  institutions  are  founded  upon  that  broad  and  heaven- 
ly charter,  "  peace  on  earth  and  good  wilHo  man."  Un- 
der all  the  variegated  forms  which  the  world  assumes, 
we  discover  the  same  spirit  reigning.  So  under  all  the 
forms  of  religion  ought  (here  to  be  manifested  one  reign- 
ing spirit  of  love.  Your  ministers  study  peace,  and  endea- 
vour to  maintain  it  with  all  cneo.  The  truth  may  and  must 
he  declared  with  all  plainness  and  fidelity;  bat  this  may  be 
done  without  interfering  with  the  rights  of  conscience  io 
other  men.  Though  studious  of  peace,  we  trust  yon  will 
not  find  them  unprepared  fop  the  contest,  when  fidelity 
to  their  charge  demands  that  they  contend  earnestly  for 
the  order  of  the  gospel,  and  for  the  faith  once  delivered 
to  the  saints.  May  that  day  soon  come,  when  the  watck- 
Dien  on  Zion*s  wall  shall  see  eye  to  eye  and  face  to  face. 

But  whilst  we  call  you  to  thanksgiving  and  praise  for 
these  good  mercies  of  God,  we  would  mingle  otir  com- 
plaints, and  counsel,  and  exhortatiou,  concerning  those 
things  which  ought  to  be  io  us  a  matter  of  grief. 

1st.  The  pecuniary  embarrassments  under  which  this 
section  of  country  has  laboured  for  some  ^eai's  past,  have 
been  a  source  of  strong  temptation  to  many.  Too  manyt 
we  fear,  have  been  induced  to  engage  in  business,  if  not 


4 


unlawful  for  the  cliristsan,  at  least  inexpedientj  and  by 
hastening  to  be  rich,  or  obtain  relief  from  their  eoibar* 
rassments,  have  fallen  into  temptation,  into  snares,  and 
have  pierced  themselves  through  with  many  sorrows.  We 
may  lay  it  down  as  a  fixed  principle,  that  whatever  em- 
ployment tends  to  weaken  our  thoughts  of  God  and  divine 
things,  or  injure  the  morals  of  the  community  at  large, 
must  be  wrong  in  God's  sight.  If  there  be  any  among 
you,  brethren,  thus  circumstanced,  we  beseech  you,  as  you 
value  your  own  souls  and  the  souls  of  others,  to  put  away 
these  things.  The  only  remedy  for  the  ills  under  which 
we  labour,  is  sobriety,  temperance,  industry,  united  with 
the  fear  of  God,  and  a  constant  sense  of  our  dependance 
upon  him.  The  path  of  duty  will  always  be  found  the 
path  of  safety.  Let  there  be  among  you  *<  just  weights 
and  measures;"  use  not  the  balances  of  deceit;  defraud 
not,  lie  not  one  to  another.  ««  Whatsoever  things  are  true, 
whatsoever  things  are  honest,  whatsoever  things  are  just, 
whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoever  tilings  are  love- 
ly, whatsoever  things  are  of  good  report,  think  on  these 
things,"  "and  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do  them."  We  would 
especially  exhort  the  officers  in  the  church  to  be  in  these 
things,  as  in  all  others,  an  example  to  the  flock  over 
which  they  are  appointed  to  preside. 

2.  Observance  of  the  Sabbath,  we  fear,  is  too  much  ne- 
glected. The  Sabbath  day  is  the  safeguard  of  our  holy 
religion.  If  this  be  kept  holy,  vital  piety  will  flourish;  if 
it  be  neglected,  vital  piety  must  decline,  and  even  the 
moral  restraints  x)f  the  forms  of  religion  soon  be  banish- 
ed. If  we  would  grow  in  grace,  honour  our  Master,  and 
enjoy  the  consolations  of  the  gospel,  we  must  be  careful 
in  all  things  to  improve  this  sacred  day  of  rest.  The 
Sabbath  must  be  to  us  «a  delight,  the  holy  of  the  Lord, 
and  honorable."  We  ought  to  guard  against  the  sin  which 
so  provoked  the  Lord,  and  called  down  his  heavy  judg* 
ments  upon  Judab  and  Jerusalem.  As  we  value  our  civil 
and  religious  liberties,  our  children  and  servants  should 
be  instructed  and  commanded  to  keep  holy  the  Sabbath 
day,  and  to  be  warned  of  the  danger  of  neglecting  or 
abusing  it.  Works  of  necessity  and  mercy  are  allowed 
on  this  holy  day.  But  how  many  deceive  themselves,  and 
under  the  shelter  of  necessity  and  mercy,  indulge  a  lati- 
tudinarian  spirit  and  conduct,  which  is  condemned  by 


the  word  of  God.  Many  in  order  to  be  under  the  neces- 
sity of  travelling  on  the  Lord's  day,  will  leave  their  homes 
for  a  journey  on  Friday  or  Saturday.  Others  plead  the 
nature  of  their  calling,  which  demands  their  travelling  on 
this  holy  day.  But,  dear  brethren,  until  the  bible  speaks 
a  language  different  from  that  which  it  now  does,  we  must 
aver  to  you,  that  the  calling  which  demands  this  disregard 
of  God's  holy  commandment,  must  be  unlawful,  and  there- 
fore injurious  to  your  best  eternal  interests.  We  do  ex- 
hort you  to  remember  the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy; 

There  is  need,  dear  brethren,  of  a  stricter  example  of 
holy  living  amongst  us.  Ye  are  not  your  own,  for  ye  are 
bought  With  a  price,  and  are  therefore  bound  tco  glorify 
him  in  your  bodies  and  spirits,  which  are  his.  When  ini- 
quity abounds,  and  the  love  of  many  waxeth  cold,  when 
the  enemy  cometh  in  like  a  flood,  the  church  of  God 
should  lift  up  the  standard  of  holy  living  against  it,  for 
the  weapons  of  her  warfare  are  not  carnal  but  spiritual. 
Christians  should  be  careful  not  to  be  partakers  of  other 
men's  sins.  Whatever,  therefore,  may  minister  to  the 
evil  habits  of  others,  ought  carefully  to  be  guarded 
against.  ISo  habit  is  more  destructive  in  its  consequences, 
more  ruinous  to  men  both  in  time  and  through  eternity, 
than  the  intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits.  Where  men 
assemble  for  such  indulgences,  professors  of  religion' 
ought  not  to  be  found;  and  every  incentive  and  encour- 
agement to  this  destructive  habit  should  be  avoided.  It  is 
painful  to  behold  those  who  tender  their  services  to  their 
;  fellow  creatufes,  to  frame  laws  for  their  government, 
pursuing  a  coarse  year  after  year,  which  must  eventually 
producs  a  state  of  misery  and  ruin  in  many  of  their  con- 
stituents, beyond  the  remedy  of  ^11  the  wholesome  laws 
they  can  possibly  frame.  It  is  not  surprising  that  design- 
ing men,  who  seek  their  own  interests  and  not  the  inte- 
rests of  others,  should  be  found  stooping  to  such  injurl- 
oos  measures  to  ensure  their  political  success;  but  it  is 
painful  to  behold  good  men,  those  who  profess  to  love 
God  and  the  souls  of  their  fellow  men,  countenancing  by 
their  presence  and  example  such  a  ruinous  practice.  Tha 
excuse  which  is  generally  made,  that  a  candidate  cannot 
be  elected  without  this,  presents  a  most  humiliating  pic- 
ture of  the  purity  of  our  republican  institutions.  But, 
brethren,  we  cannot  believe  that  there  is  so  little  virtue 


in  the  people  at  large,  that  a  good  man  cannot  receive 
the  saffragps  of  his  iellow  citizens,  unless  he  p'jrchases 
their  votes  with  (he  price  of  their  moral  ruin.  Indeed,  an 
American  citizen  ought  to  consider  himself  insulted,  that 
SL^ant\U\iite  should  put  the  bottle  to  his  head,  to  turn  Ins 
brain  to  get  his  vote.  Brethren,  we  beseech  >ou  to  lend 
your  atd  in  putting  down  these  pernicious  practices;  and 
in  order  to  thiH  we  ilo  regard  it  as  the  duty  of  all  chris- 
tians to  withhold  their  support  Irora  those  candidates 
whose  conduct  tends  to  injure  the  morals  of  the  commu- 
tiity  at  large.  We  would  earnestly  recommend  this  sub- 
ject to  the  careful  attention  of  the  churches;  and  exhort 
our  brethren,  by  precept  and  example^  to  labour  to  put  a 
stop  to  this  growing  evil. 

As  a  preservative  from  this,  and  from  all  vices,  we 
would  press  upon  you  the  cultivation  of  family  religion. 
The  reading  God's  holy  word,  the  morning  and  the  eve- 
ning supplication  at  a  throne  of  grace,  and  the  careful  in- 
struction of  children  in  divine  things,  hath  been  a  niean 
greatly  blessed  by  tlie  Head  of  the  church  ior  the  preser- 
vation and  increase  of  vital  piety.  We  tear  that  there 
is  not  that  attention  given  to  the  instruction  of  children 
and  youth  that  there  should  be;  that  biblical  and  catechet- 
ical instruction  is  too  much  neglected  by  parents.  If, 
brethren,  you  expect  the  profit  of  pastoral  labour,  you 
iBUSt  aid  your  ministers  in  their  exertions.  We  rejoice 
in  the  institution  of  Sunday  schools  for  the  instruction  of 
the  young  and  ignorant  in  the  things  of  God;  and  vsa 
would  earnestly  recommend  to  you  their  encouragement 
and  support.  Let  there  be  one  in  every  neighborhood, 
and  all  tho  exertions  you  may  make*  will,  in  a  few  years, 
be  atnply  repaid  by  the  beneficial  eSects  upon  all  around 
you. 

We  would  urge  upon  our  churches  the  duty  of  aiding 
in  ail  the  benevolent  exertions  that  are  making  for  the 
increase  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  and  the  promotion 
of  the  happinesss  of  our  fellow  men.  Christians  should 
regard  it  aa  a  privilege  that  they  are  permitted  to  live 
iti  a  day  like  this.  The  churcK  of  God  seems  to  be  awa- 
kened in  these  latter  days,  to  the  great  concerns  of  eter- 
nity. And  blind  indeed  must  be  that  mind,  and  cold  and 
contracted  that  heart,  which  can  neither  behold  the  march 
the  church  is  makiDg)  nor  feel  a  lively  interest  in  aiding 


7 


ber  progress.  It  is  no  lime  now  to  enter  into  cold  calcu- 
lations with  regard  to  the  result  of  this  or  that  benevo- 
lent institution.  The  prophecies  of  scripture,  the  promis- 
es of  God,  the  daily  experience  of  the  church,  all  unite  in 
confirming  the  encouraging  declaration  of  Jesus,  »♦  fear 
not  little  flock,  for  ii  is  your  Father*8  good  pleasure  to 
give  you  the  kingdom."  Bible,  missionary,  tract,  and 
education  societies,  all  demand  the  fostering  hand  of  the 
pious  and  benevolent;  and  we  cannot  withhold  our  assis- 
tance without  bringing  leanness  upon  our  own  souls. 

Brethren,  we  would,  in  the  conclusion  ol  this  address, 
remind  you  of  the  duty  of  supporting  the  gospel  ministry; 
a  duty  not  regarded  as  such  by  many,  we  tear;  and  attend- 
ed to  by  these,  more  as  matter  of  convenience,  than  of 
religious  obligation.  The  roinistry  of  the  gospel  is  an  in- 
stitution of  God,  not  the  appointment  of  man.  True  mi- 
nisters are  called  of  God  to  this  high  and  holy  office,  not 
of  man.  The  temporal  support  of  this  ministry  is  founded 
upon  the  commandment  ot  God,  and  not  the  will  of  man. 
Under  the  Mosaic  dispensation  of  grace,  they  that  mi- 
nistered in  holy  things  were  separated  from  all  worldly 
avocations,  and  devoted  entirely  to  the  service  of  the  tem- 
ple; nevertheless,  ample  provision  was  made  for  the  tem- 
poral support  of  the  priest  and  his  family.  Under  the 
gospel  dispensation  the  same  is  ordained.  Such  is  the  view 
which  the  apostle  in  his  epistle  to  the  church  of  Corinth 
takes  of  this  subject,  1  Cor.  ix.  «  Who  goeth  a  warfare 
at  any  time  at  his  own  charges?  who  planteth  a  vineyard 
and  eateth  not  of  the  fruit  thereof  ?  or  who  feedeth  a  flock 
and  eatetb  not  of  the  milk  of  the  flock?  It  is  written  in 
the  law  oi  Moses,  thoo  shalt  not  muzzle  the  mouth  of  tba 
ox  that  treadeth  out  the  corn.  Doth  God  take  care  for 
oxen?  or  saith  he  it  altogether  lor  our  sakes?  For  our 
sakes,  no  doubt,  it  is  written:  that  be  that  plougheth 
should  plough  in  hope;  and  he  that  threshetb  in  hope 
should  be  partaker  of  his  hope.  If  we  have  sown  untp  yon 
spiritual  things,  is  it  a  great  thing  if  we  reap  your  carnal 
things?  Do  ye  not  know  that  they  which  minister  about 
holy  things  live  of  the  things  of  the  temple,  and  they  which 
wait  at  the  altar  are  partakers  with  the  altar?  Even  so 
hath  the  Lord  ordained  that  they  which  preach  the  gospel 
should  live  of  the  gospel."  To  the  christian,  to  !he  gene- 
rous mindy  it  is  sufficient  to  know  that  the  support  of  the 


8 


njiuistrv  is  ordained  of  the  Lord,  and  attended  with  a  bles- 
sios:  lo'thp  world.  Such  will  not  be  disposed  to  regard 
thtir  contributions  to  this  object  in  the  light  of  chanty, 
but  i>fJiiStkG*  Many  of  our  people,  we  are  persuaded,  do 
Bat  takt*  proper  views  of  the  subject;  they  do  not  view  it 
ft$  » thit^v  and  a  privilege  to  minister  of  their  carnal  things 
t\i  thuse  of  whose  spiritual  things  thej  constantly  reap. 

we  should  not  witness  so  njany  of  our  ministers  en- 
tai^gled  with  the  world,  compelled  (o  he  busied  with  its 
Ci>i)cerus,  and  depressed  with  its  cares.  Is  it  just,  is  it  li- 
bi*ral  in  our  people,  to  expect  their  ministers  to  devote 
their  time,  their  talents,  their  all  to  their  spiritual  and 
eternal  interests,  and  be  left  at  the  same  time  to  struggle 
with  the  distressing  cares  and  embarrassments  which  a 
scanty  provision  brings  upon  them?  If  compelled  to  at- 
tend to  the  concerns  ot  the  world,  to  provide  things  ho- 
nest in  the  sight  of  all  men  for  himself  and  family,  he 
sinks  in  the  estimation  of  his  people,  is  charged  with  a 
worldly  spirit,  becomes  lifeless,  in  a  measure,  to  spiritual 
things,  and  repays  his  charge  with  that  leanness  in  spi- 
ritual  things  with  which  they  visit  him  in  temporal  things. 
Brethren,  these  things  ought  not  so  to  be.  The  ministry 
is  a  high  and  holy  calling,  and  ought  to  be  one  undivided 
work.  It  demands,  and  should  have,  all  the  powers  of  a 
man;  and  he  who  is  called  to  it,  should  be  placed  by  his 
people  above  the  cares  incident  to  an  ordinary  support. 
We  ask  not  for  our  ministers,  even  that  portion  of  the 
riches  of  this  world,  which  their  time  and  talents,  if  era- 
ployed  as  other  men,  coight  gain  for  them;  but  we  ask 
that  which  is  just,  and  which  God  ordains — "  that  they 
wfiich  preach  the  gospel  should  live  of  the  gospel." 

Brethren,  we  commend  you  to  our  and  your  heavenly 
Father.  May  he  guide  you  into  all  truth,  direct  you  al- 
ways in  the  path  of  duty,  and  bless  you  in  all  things  tem- 
poral and  spiritual.  And  may  grace,  mercy  and  peace, 
from  the  Father,  Son  and  Spirit,  rest  upoD  and  abide 
with  ycu  ever  more. 

By  order  of  the  Presbytery, 

J.  WITHERSPOON,  Stated  Clerk. 


D.  Heartt,  Printer, 

Hillsborough. 


